AIR WALES will be the first airline in the UK to launch an all-inclusive pricing policy on flight tickets today. The Swansea airline, owned by millionaire entrepreneur Roy Thomas, will introduce the all-inclusive #49 return ticket price on its most popular flight route between Swansea, Cardiff and London, which was launched in April.

The fee will include all airport and government taxes and will not vary according to season or time of travel.

All children's seats (for those aged 2-11) will be priced at #24.50, while children under two will fly from just #5.

The London City route, the only air link between Swansea, Cardiff and London, runs three times daily Monday to Friday, with a predominantly business commuter base, with the daily weekend service attracting more leisure passengers.

The London services are currently running at around an average 80% occupancy level. The airline, based at Swansea Airport, is also considering introducing a no-conditions flat fare on all its services.

Air Wales chairman Roy

Thomas said, "We've been following the calls by various consumer groups for clearer pricing in the airline industry.

"While flights advertised at unbelievably cheap prices are available, they usually have airport charges and taxes on top, which hikes the price up considerably.

"Equally, these low fares usually rely on early booking or passengers being extremely flexible on time or date of travel.

"For many passengers, particularlythe business travellers-such flexibility or advance-notice just isn't feasible and they end up being penalised with inflated fares as a result.

"At Air Wales we've decided to draw a line in the sand and have taken the decision to try out a crystal clear all-inclusive pricing structure on our most popular route between Swansea, Cardiff and London," he said.

"From now on, no matter when you travel or when you book, your ticket will only ever be one price - #49 - with no hidden extras."

The move by Air Wales follows the announcement earlier in the week that an EU law giving greater rights to air passengers has received parliamentary backing, including compensation for late arrival or cancelled flights.

Mr Thomas said, "We're piloting this new pricing structure on the London route to begin with, so that we can gauge customer reaction and evaluate the popularity of the initiative.

"We are confident that our customers will react positively

1999. to this new policy and, if so, we will be looking at reviewing our pricing structure on all Air Wales flights."

Air Wales currently flies to Dublin, Cork, Jersey and London from Cardiff and Swansea airports; Belfast City from Cardiff Airport and Jersey, Dublin and Cork from Plymouth airports.

Air Wales has also applied to take over the slots of BA's abandoned service between Gatwick, Plymouth and Newquay.

The airline, which employs nearly 150, was established in

Its headquarters were moved from Cardiff to Swansea Airport after Mr Thomas acquired the business from Swansea millionaire businessman Martin Morgan last year for an undisclosed sum.

Air Wales introduced shortlived services from Cardiff to Glasgow and Edinburgh, before the arrival of BMIbaby, which has received a substantial six-figure sum funding package from the Welsh Development Agency for marketing and promotional initiatives to promote its Cardiff base.